The Denver Nuggets just pulled off one of the wildest victories of the NBA season, capping a 25-4 run over the game’s final six-plus minutes with a 39-foot, banked-in buzzer-beater from Nikola Jokic to stun the host Golden State Warriors, 130-127, on Thursday.
Seriously, look at this shot from Jokic:
HE IS HIM. GAME WINNER. pic.twitter.com/YeuYZVTMRv
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 5, 2024 Stan Van Gundy took the words out of everyone’s mouth: “Are you kidding me?” A 7-footer pulling up off the dribble from outside the logo at the buzzer? Bank or no bank, Jokic is something else. I mean, the dude has missed only five shots over his last four games. And, yes, you read that right. After going 13 for 16 for 34 points on Thursday, Jokic has now made 39 of his last 44 shots.
Malone said everyone on the Nuggets bench thought Jokic’s shot was good as soon as he released it. Said he wishes he could say that’s the exact play he drew up.
“Nikola lives for those moments. And it’s great and joyful a player of his talent … make the plays that he makes.”
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) January 5, 2024 So this is great for the reigning champion Nuggets, who are kind of coasting along waiting for the postseason, if we’re being honest. But on the other side of a victory like this there is always a team bleeding out, and for the Warriors, this is without question the toughest loss in a season that has been filled with close-but-no-cigar losses.
So far Golden State has played in a league-high 27 clutch games, which are defined as games being within five points with five minutes or fewer to play. They are 13-14 in those games. Treading water.
This is the kind of loss that can put you under.
“These games all come down to the wire it feels like for us this year,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “These are gut punches, for sure.”
With the loss, the Warriors, for the time being, fall out of a Play-In Tournament spot at 16-18, a half-game back of the also-reeling Lakers for the No. 10 seed. The Warriors are not even close to as good as the Nuggets, but on any given night, they can still play with anyone in the league. They just don’t have any margin for error anymore. They can’t turn the ball over, particularly at the wrong time. They can’t go cold when it’s time to close.
They did both on Thursday. Stephen Curry missed all five of his shots over the final six minutes and threw away the pass that gave the Nuggets their final, game-winning possession. Chris Paul, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins all missed crucial jumpers. And on the other end, the Warriors couldn’t get stops.
Call the Jokic winner a bad roll of the dice, but the game was going the wrong way long before that, and the Warriors paid the price for letting a championship team hang around a little too long.
Steve Kerr spoke about the concept in great detail prior to the Golden State Warriors’ matchup against the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Thursday night — “It’s a very stressful job, but only relatively speaking” was chief among his Popovichian axioms.
Little did Kerr know exactly how crucial that perspective would become just a few hours later.
As Nikola Jokic’s 39-foot, one-legged heave from just inside the half-court line floated through the air, it was almost a foregone conclusion that the dagger would land squarely in the arteries of the Warriors’ hearts. After a 22-4 Denver run over the final six-and-a-half minutes that erased an 18-point Golden State lead, Jokic’s game-winner sealed a 130-127 Nuggets win — and one of the most deflating losses of a disappointment-riddled Warriors season.
“This is a tough one,” Kerr said after the game. “This is as tough as they get — this loss tonight.”
The rapid turnaround bordered on cringeworthy for everyone except the Nuggets and their fans. After a season-best 44-point third quarter, the Warriors were on cruise control as their lead approached 20 midway through the fourth — players chest-bumping, fans rejoicing, the vibes tangibly improving by the second.
From that point on, however, they watched helplessly as the basket that had appeared as vast as the ocean for most of the game suddenly slammed shut. Meanwhile, Denver bludgeoned Golden State inside, consistently scoring at the rim and from the foul line to seize back momentum.
What was poised to be a celebratory, potentially transformative night for the Warriors devolved into yet another jagged lump of evidence suggesting that the unparalleled mojo of the Steph Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green dynasty is rapidly nearing — and perhaps past — its expiration date.
Thursday was the fourth time this season that the Warriors lost a game which they led by 18 points or more. The most glaring instance was the one-point loss to the Sacramento Kings in late November, which saw Golden State surrender a 24-point lead, costing them a potential appearance in the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals. Just two games later, they blew a 22-point lead in a loss to the Clippers. And don’t forget Chet Holmgren’s improbable game-tying corner 3-pointer that powered the Oklahoma City Thunder to an overtime victory at Chase Center shortly after.
“I have never had, like, such good wins and such bad losses,” Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski said after Thursday’s defeat. “I kind of lean into the vets on what they think, and they just tell me it’s another game coming and just try to be consistent in your daily habits, your routine — and more often times than not we’ll come out with a victory. But, like I said, we’re blowing a lot of leads. We could easily have 20-25 wins this year.”
It’s been a bumpy, often heartbreaking ride for the now 16-18 Warriors, who are currently sitting outside of the Western Conference Play-In Tournament picture at 11th place. With Thompson and Andrew Wiggins underperforming for most of the season and Green still serving an indefinite suspension, Kerr’s word — perspective — is becoming more and more difficult to maintain.
With each loss mounts more suffocating pressure to not only salvage the season, but also to resurrect the charisma, success and synergy that’s become associated with Golden State’s logo over the past decade.
“You don’t want to be in position where you’re having to explain away bad losses,” Curry said on Thursday night. “But that’s who we are right now.”
The Warriors have, on occasion, taken the optimistic approach to their late-game failures. Of their 34 games this season, a league-leading 27 have been of the clutch variety — within five points with five minutes remaining. That’s led to a lot of tough losses (14, to be exact), but it also means that Golden State is in nearly every game until the end. If the ball bounces slightly different, the execution is slightly more crisp or a foul call goes their way, suddenly their record looks a lot more appealing.
But it’s hard to be an optimist when you’re losing, especially the way the Warriors have been losing.
Now, more than ever, perspective has to be king in order to prevent the season from cratering, along with the ramifications that would accompany that failure. The page that the Warriors must turn seemingly each and every night is getting heavier by the loss, but if anyone understands the fickle nature of the NBA — the ability of fortunes to change at the slightest twist of fate — it’s the veterans and champions that lead Golden State’s organization.
“When you lose hope in yourself as a team, that’s when the conversation changes. We’re not there,” Curry remarked. “… Even with the record we [have] now, we know we can compete. Just a situation where you’re out there with a look of despair on your face because you’re trying to figure out how it happened. We have to fight that balance right now for us to give ourselves a chance.”
It was almost as if the NBA schedule-makers knew something special was going to happen on Thursday, a January night that featured a month low of only two games scheduled between two title-ready squads and two teams that — to varying degrees — are struggling to find their footing.
But the unexpected happened. Early. Late. And then very late. Victor Wembanyama and his Spurs’ unit, that until Thursday night looked more like project than playoffs this season, did not back down against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the championship-minded Bucks in the first career battle between the faces of their respective franchises. (The late game saw the defending champion Nuggets down by 18 midway through the fourth quarter before closing the night on 24-5 run to top the gobsmacked Warriors, who, once again, find themselves searching for answers. With the game tied at 127, Nikola Jokic banked in a 39-footer as time expired.)
Wembanyama, the top pick in last year’s draft, missed the Dec. 19 meeting in Milwaukee due to a leg injury, meaning that one of his birthday gifts was his first time squaring off against Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. But the Spurs’ standout rookie, now 20, shined in a back-and-forth matchup with the former two-time league MVP. Tallying 27 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in the Spurs’ 125-121 loss, Wembanyama displayed all of the traits that have most observers thinking that it’s just a matter of time before there’s a changing of the guard.
Currently, the rookie phenom is dealing with some lingering ankle soreness that has limited his workload and will keep him out of back-to-back contests for the foreseeable future. Still, Wembanyama made the most of his 26 minutes played, including some ridiculous highlight-reel-worthy plays in the game’s final frame.
“Of course I can’t spend the whole game on the floor, but I felt like I made those minutes count,” Wembanyama said. “And we managed to keep me in enough minutes, so I could be on the court at the end.”
And make those minutes count he did. Let’s dive into all the drama that played out over the game’s final half.
To start, Wembanyama only had four points in each of the first two quarters, but came out of halftime firing. The Spurs won the third quarter 34-29, thanks in part to 13 points from the 7-foot-4 Frenchman. He drained an additional six points in the final frame to finish the second half with 19 points, four rebounds and four blocks.
Here’s a sampling of some of his otherworldly plays throughout the contest. He pulled off a behind-the-back dunk through contact, a self-alley-oop and blocked Antetokounmpo’s driving basket.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA GOES BEHIND THE BACK FOR THE POSTER 🤯pic.twitter.com/bTnN96g5ci
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024 VICTOR WEMBANYAMA WITH THE SELF ALLEY-OOP 😱pic.twitter.com/TZyASYsB9w
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 5, 2024 Wemby stood TALL for his 5th block of the game at a crucial point.
Spurs fell short in a thriller. https://t.co/yakubmgawx pic.twitter.com/zWh1CyH6EZ
— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2024 Wembanyama also poured in a clutch three-pointer in the game’s minute to tie things up at 121. That three-pointer came at the other end of a clutch block. Again, otherworldly.
WEMBY BLOCK INTO 3 TIES IT UP.
121-121.
Bucks-Spurs on TNT pic.twitter.com/1WFaT2wU9N
— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2024 “I’ve never seen anything like him,” Antetokounmpo said, when reflecting on his first encounter with Wembanyama.
Unfortunately, Wembanyama’s efforts fell just short. Antetokounmpo made a clutch basket to put the Bucks up 123-121, and despite Wembanyama’s block of him on another basket a few moments later, the Spurs were unable to tie the game again.
Antetokounmpo scored 14 points in the final frame to put the game away en route to an impressive double-double — 44 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.
“[He’s] somebody I grew up watching and one of the greatest players in the world, so there’s always extra motivation,” Wembanyama said of his matchup with Antetokounmpo. “I’m a competitor, so I’m going to go at everyone and be the bad guy on the court. It was a great matchup.”
Great matchup is a nice way of putting it. The Spurs entered the contest with just five wins, but walked away with delivering one of the most entertaining games of the season.
Said Khris Middleton: “To see those two guys go at it, I don’t think the league has ever seen anything like that.”
And based off Wembanyama’s post-game comments, it sounds like fans can expect similar marquee games from here on out. When asked about any extra motivation following the announcement of All-Star ballots and Rookie of the Month winners, Wembanyama said, “Of course, of course. I’m dedicated and I know at the end of the day I’m going to get what I deserve, and every game is a statement from now on.”
This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here.
CBS Sports HQ Newsletter We bring sports news that matters to your inbox, to help you stay informed and get a winning edge.
I agree to receive the “CBS Sports HQ Newsletter” and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge Paramount’s Privacy Policy. Email Address 🏈 Good morning to everyone but especially … WILL HOWARD AND OHIO STATE
Ohio State has its next quarterback. Will Howard has his next home. The former Kansas State signal-caller is headed to Columbus as the Buckeyes reload — and perhaps improve — under center after Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse.
Howard threw for 24 touchdowns and ran for nine more with the Wildcats last year and had interest in the portal from USC and Miami in addition to Ohio State. With the Buckeyes, he’ll likely compete with Devin Brown for the starting job, though Howard will have one key advantage, notes Dean Straka.
Straka: “Howard may not be a showstopper when it comes to quarterbacks, but his presence does give coach Ryan Day a QB1 option with Power Five starting experience in 2024 — a luxury the team didn’t have last year when the choices were McCord and Brown. With a full offseason at his disposal, Howard should be well versed in Ryan Day’s system by the time Week 1 rolls around.” 👍 Honorable mentions LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo are leading the polls in NBA All-Star Game fan voting. Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama met for the first time, and we were treated to one of the best games of the season. The Magic will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey. The Ravens signed Dalvin Cook. Several Alabama stars are going pro, including projected top-10 pick J.C. Latham and cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold. Texas standouts Jonathan Brooks and Byron Murphy also declared for the NFL Draft. So did Iowa’s Cooper DeJean. Quinshon Judkins entered the transfer portal. Penn State added Julian Fleming from the portal, and he’ll help a lot, writes Tom Fornelli. Texas A&M added Nic Scourton. Here are freshmen who shined in bowls. The Braves extended Chris Sale. The Mets signed Harrison Bader. This is a ridiculous goal from Tim Weah. Here’s each team’s NHL All-Star. Oklahoma has a new defensive coordinator. 😲 And not such a good morning for … 010424-stephcurry.jpg Getty Images THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The Warriors were cruising to their best win of the year. They ended up with one of their most soul-crushing regular-season losses not just of the year, but of the Stephen Curry era.
Nikola Jokic banked in a half-court buzzer-beater (watch it here) to lift Denver to a 130-127 win over host Golden State in a matchup of the last two NBA champions. The Nuggets finished the game on a 25-4 run over the final 6:34.
We don’t need to review every aimless offensive possession, every miss and every defensive implosion. The Warriors, now 16-18 this season and 11th in the West, just suffered an absolute backbreaker and have no one to blame but themselves, writes Colin Ward-Henninger.
Ward-Henninger: “What was poised to be a celebratory, potentially transformative night for the Warriors devolved into yet another jagged lump of evidence suggesting that the unparalleled mojo of the Steph Curry-Klay Thompson-Draymond Green dynasty is rapidly nearing — and perhaps past — its expiration date.” Oh yeah, that Jokic fella isn’t half bad, either.
👎 Not-so-honorable mentions As we mentioned yesterday afternoon, the Lakers are frustrated and losing patience with Darvin Ham. The Nets were fined $100,000 for violating the NBA’s player participation policy. Providence star Brycen Hopkins (torn ACL) is done for the season. UConn’s Aubrey Griffin suffered a knee injury. Jason Zucker was suspended three games for an illegal hit. 🏈 NFL Week 18 picks c-j-stroud.jpg Getty Images It’s here. Week 18, in all of its glory. Sixteen games — 13 with playoff implications, three with draft implications. It starts tomorrow, first with the Steelers facing the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens, followed by a win-and-in Texans-Colts showdown. Tyler Sullivan says …
Sullivan: “C.J. Stroud is the X-factor. He gives Houston the clear advantage at quarterback over Gardner Minshew and was solid in his return from his concussion last week against Tennessee. With the rust dusted off of him for this matchup against the Colts, he should find success against a defense that he threw for 384 yards against back in Week 2. The Texans are also 7-0 SU and ATS in their last seven divisional road games. Projected score: Texans 28, Colts 24. The pick: Texans +1” Sunday, the Packers have their own win-and-in game against the Bears. John Breech says …
Breech: “The Bears are one of the hottest teams in the NFL and they’ll be going into Green Bay with a rushing attack that averages 145.3 yards per game, which is the second-best in the NFL. And they’ll be going up against a Packers defense that has been horrible at stopping the run this season. The pick: Bears 30-27 over Packers” Justin Fields has made his case to be “the guy” long-term, but how about this defense?! Since Week 10, the Bears lead the league in defensive success rate. So I’m with John here.
Last week I went three for three on my picks, so we’ll try it again. In addition to Bears over Packers, I’m going …
Saints over Falcons Jaguars over Titans As for our experts’ picks …
Pete Prisco | Will Brinson | John Breech | Jordan Dajani | Tyler Sullivan
💰 NIL changes coming this year? untitled-design-2024-01-05t013832-905.png Getty Images Remember one month ago when NCAA president Charlie Baker proposed a pay-for-play plan that would revolutionize college sports and create a new subdivision of D-I schools? It may be coming sooner than you think.
According to CBS Sports insider Dennis Dodd, the NCAA will consider adopting at least part of Baker’s proposal as soon as August.
If you don’t quite remember the details, here’s a great summary from Shehan Jeyarajah.
Jeyarajah: “Membership in the new subdivision would be voluntary, but would require an investment of at least $30,000 per year into an educational trust fund for at least half of its total number athletes. … The football-based subdivision would be independent of the FBS and FCS dichotomy. Teams at either level are eligible to opt into the football subdivision. However, teams that opt in will ultimately be able to exist at a different level than the rest of college football. The group could decide different roster sizes, recruitment practices, transfer or NIL rules, even while competing against other members of FBS or FCS working under the existing rules.” More details:
Baker’s plan would add many benefits powerhouse programs might have sought by breaking away from the NCAA, while remaining under the NCAA umbrella. Athletes would be directly compensated without them being designated (or protected) as employees. The educational trust fund would be in addition to scholarships. The remaining FBS schools would still have access to the College Football Playoff. Several top athletic directors have voiced support for the proposal. Per Dennis’ reporting, the NCAA Council will meet in April to discuss, in June to finalize recommendations and in August to act on the recommendations — and potentially institute them by next football season. The creation of a new subdivision could come by January 2025.
There are still lots of hurdles from many sides: schools, athletic departments, student-athletes and even legal representation. But for now, it looks like Baker’s proposal could be taking steps forward, and soon.
🏀 What it’s like to play alongside Tyrese Haliburton untitled-design-2024-01-03t211144-648.png Getty Images “Diabolical.”
That’s how one of Tyrese Haliburton’s teammates described Haliburton’s passing to Jack Maloney. And it’s a fair way to put it. Haliburton is the NBA’s assists leader at 12.7 per game. Only six players have ever averaged a dozen assists. And it’s not just that Haliburton racks up the assist numbers. It’s the lack of turnovers, too. No one has ever averaged 12 assists with a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, as Haliburton is doing currently.
Diabolical indeed.
Jack has a wonderful story on what it’s like to play alongside Haliburton, as told by his Pacers teammates. Some of my favorite descriptions?
“Shit, he’s artistic, man.” “He makes it flashy, but it’s the right play every time.” “It’s just Tyrese.” If you didn’t catch Haliburton’s star rise during the In-Season Tournament, I’m sorry. The good news is it’s not too late. He and the Pacers host the Hawks tonight and the NBA-best Celtics tomorrow and Monday.
📺 What we’re watching this weekend Friday 🏀 Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN 🏀 No. 9 Illinois at No. 1 Purdue (M), 9:30 p.m. on FS1 🏀 Grizzlies at Lakers, 10 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday 🏀 No. 7 Marquette at Seton Hall (M), noon on CBS Sports Network 🏀 No. 8 North Carolina at No. 16 Clemson (M), noon on ESPN2 🏀 TCU at No. 2 Kansas (M), 2 p.m. on CBS 🏈 Steelers at Ravens, 4:30 p.m. on ABC/ESPN 🏀 No. 22 Ole Miss at No. 5 Tennessee (M), 6 p.m. on SEC Network 🏈 Texans at Colts, 8:15 p.m. on ABC/ESPN
Sunday 🏀 No. 3 NC State at No. 13 Virginia Tech (W), noon on ACC Network 🏀 Mississippi State at No. 1 South Carolina (W), 1 p.m. on ESPN 🏈 Jaguars at Titans, 1 p.m. on CBS 🏈 Falcons at Saints, 1 p.m. on CBS 🏈 Buccaneers at Panthers, 1 p.m. on Fox 🏀 No. 7 LSU at Ole Miss, 3 p.m. on ESPN 🏈 Cowboys at Commanders, 4:25 p.m. on Fox 🏈 Eagles at Giants, 4:25 p.m. on CBS 🏈 Bears at Packers, 4:25 p.m. on CBS 🏈 Seahawks at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. on Fox 🏈 Bills at Dolphins, 8:20 p.m. on NBC
The Washington Wizards (6-27) will have revenge on their mind when they face the Cleveland Cavaliers (19-15) on Friday night. Cleveland dominated Washington on Wednesday, cruising to a 140-101 blowout win. The Cavaliers are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and are in third place in the Central Division standings. Washington is sitting only ahead of Detroit at the bottom of the conference.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The Cavs are favored by 10 points in the latest Wizards vs. Cavaliers odds, while the over/under is 239 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Cavaliers vs. Wizards picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Washington vs. Cleveland. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Cavs vs. Wizards:
Cavaliers vs. Wizards spread: Cavaliers -10 Cavaliers vs. Wizards over/under: 239 points Cavaliers vs. Wizards money line: Cavaliers: -490, Wizards: +368 Cavaliers vs. Wizards picks: See picks at SportsLine Why the Cavaliers can cover Cleveland posted season-highs in multiple categories on Wednesday night, including points (140), 3-point percentage (47.6) and rebounds (62). The Cavaliers matched their season-best in offensive rebounds (18) while equaling their largest ever margin of victory over Washington. Max Strus knocked down six 3-pointers, while Donovan Mitchell added four.
Strus was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points, shooting 6 of 8 from beyond the arc, while Sam Merrill, Georges Niang and Caris LeVert each added three triples. The Cavaliers have covered the spread in six of their last nine games, and they have covered in four of their last five home games against Washington. The Wizards have lost eight of their last nine road games and have only covered twice in their last six games overall. See which team to pick here.
Why the Wizards can cover Cleveland has struggled to build on its best performances this season, following up double-digit wins with losses on three occasions. The Cavaliers lost to Portland at home two days after their previously most lopsided victory of the season, which came in a 128-105 final against Atlanta. Washington has done a quality job of bouncing back from blowout losses, with its most recent win coming two days after a 30-point loss to Toronto.
In fact, all six of the Wizards’ wins have come after a double-digit loss, including their 110-104 win over Brooklyn last Friday. Kyle Kuzma scored a game-high 26 points, while Deni Avdija added 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Kuzma finished 7 of 12 from the floor and scored a team-best 16 points in the loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. The Wizards also get to face an undermanned Cavs team missing Darius Garland (jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee). See which team to pick here.
How to make Cavaliers vs. Wizards picks The model has simulated Wizards vs. Cavs 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off against the Brooklyn Nets in an NBA interconference matchup on Friday. Brooklyn is 15-20 overall and 9-8 at home, while Oklahoma City is 23-10 overall and 9-5 on the road. The Thunder defeated the Nets, 124-108, in their lone meeting last season.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Oklahoma City is a 5.5-point favorite in the latest Thunder vs. Nets odds, according to the SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 234 points. Before entering any Nets vs. Thunder picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Brooklyn vs. Oklahoma City. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Thunder vs. Nets:
Nets vs. Thunder spread: Thunder -5.5 Nets vs. Thunder over/under: 234 points Nets vs. Thunder money line: Nets: +168, Thunder: -203 OKC: The Thunder have won four straight games against the Nets BRK: The Nets are 11-5-1 against the spread at home this season Nets vs. Thunder picks: See picks at SportsLine What to know about the Thunder The Thunder had their five-game winning streak snapped in a 141-138 loss to the Hawks on Wednesday, but they are still playing some of their best basketball in years. Oklahoma City has won eight of its last 10 games en route to a 23-10 record, which is the second-best mark in the Western Conference. The Thunder knocked off some of the NBA’s best during that recent five-game winning streak, including the Nuggets and Celtics.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is firmly putting himself in the discussion and toward the front of the line for conversations about the best scorers in the NBA. The 25-year-old is third in scoring at 31.4 points per game while holding the 18th-best shooting percentage (54.6%). He has the best shooting percentage among guards, including the ninth-highest for players averaging at least 10 shots per game and the fifth-best for those averaging more than 15 field goal attempts per contest. Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 30-plus points in eight of the last nine games and will be a challenge for the Nets to contain. See which team to pick here.
What to know about the Nets While the Thunder are playing some of their best basketball in recent memory, the same can’t exactly be said about the Nets. Brooklyn has lost five straight games, but it returns home to the Barclays Center after a four-game road trip, hoping that translates to better play. The Nets split their two most recent home contests.
After averaging 19.7 ppg in December, Cameron Thomas isn’t off to the best start to begin 2024. The 22-year-old shooting guard is 0 for 18 over the first two games of the calendar year, scoring just four total points. Cameron Johnson has led Brooklyn in scoring in back-to-back contests, averaging 16 ppg over that stretch. Thomas still leads Brooklyn in points at 20.8 ppg followed by Mikal Bridges’ 20.7 ppg, so a return to Brooklyn may be exactly what Thomas needs to return to his scoring ways. Brooklyn remains without Ben Simmons (back), while Lonnie Walker IV (hamstring) is probable after missing the last 17 games. See which team to pick here.
How to make Nets vs. Thunder picks The model has simulated Thunder vs. Nets 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
We’ve got another exciting Western Conference matchup on Friday’s NBA schedule as the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers will face off. Los Angeles is 17-18 overall and 11-5 at home, while Memphis is 11-23 overall and 8-10 on the road. The Lakers defeated the Grizzlies, 134-107, at home in their first meeting of the season.
Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers are 4-point favorites in the latest Grizzlies vs. Lakers odds, according to the SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 227 points. Before entering any Lakers vs. Grizzlies picks, you need to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s advanced computer simulation model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 11 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 106-59 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Los Angeles vs. Memphis. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Grizzlies vs. Lakers:
Lakers vs. Grizzlies spread: Lakers -4 Lakers vs. Grizzlies over/under: 227 points Lakers vs. Grizzlies money line: Lakers: -181, Grizzlies: +150 MEM: The Grizzlies are 2-1 ATS in their last three games as the underdog by at least four points LAL: The Lakers are 7-1 at home against the Grizzlies in their last eight meetings Lakers vs. Grizzlies picks: See picks at SportsLine What to know about the Grizzlies The Grizzlies are 5-4 since the return of Ja Morant from a 25-game suspension to begin the season, including 5-3 in the eight contests the electrifying guard played in. Morant has shown little signs of rust, averaging 26.6 points on 47.7% shooting along with 8.3 assists. The 24-year-old had 28 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in a 116-111 loss to the Raptors on Wednesday. Morant has scored at least 40 points in two of his last five regular-season matchups against the Lakers and posted 39 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against L.A. in their final meeting of the regular-season last year.
The Grizzlies have the third-worst ATS record (13-21, 38.2%) in the NBA this season, but they’ve been significantly better against the number since the return of Morant. Memphis is 4-4 ATS with Morant in the lineup, including 3-1 ATS as the underdog. Desmond Bane (24.5 ppg) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (20.8 ppg) are both having career seasons and setting new career highs in scoring. Their production has maintained even with the return of Morant, and with Jackson totaling eight blocks over the last two games, he can challenge LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the paint. See which team to pick here.
What to know about the Lakers The Lakers have lost three straight games, and reports are coming out that there may be some issues inside the Los Angeles locker room. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 contests and are 1-3 in their last four home contests. The Lakers were held to just 96 points in a 110-96 loss to the Heat on Wednesday despite 29 points and 17 rebounds from Davis.
The Lakers defeated the Grizzlies in six games in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last season. James averaged 22.2 points. 11.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists, with Davis averaging 20.8 points, 13.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks during that series. Despite the Lakers’ recent struggles, the duo of James and Davis have proven despite their ages, they can still carry the team to victories, as displayed during their run to winning the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament. Davis (ankle) is probable and James (ankle) is questionable for Friday, while D’Angelo Russell (tailbone) is doubtful. See which team to pick here.
How to make Lakers vs. Grizzlies picks The model has simulated Grizzlies vs. Lakers 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it also says one side of the spread hits almost 70% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
Thursday’s matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Milwaukee Bucks featured two of the tallest players in the NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo facing off against Victor Wembanyama for the first time. When Antetokounmpo got a closer look at Wembanyama, he certainly wasn’t buying that the Spurs rookie phenom is 7 feet 3 inches tall.
“He plays the right way, plays to win. I’ve never seen anything like him,” Antetokounmpo said following Thursday’s game. “I don’t know how tall he is, he’s not 7’3. He’s way taller. Whoever says he’s 7’3, that’s a lie…The sky is the limit as long as you work hard and keep on having a positive attitude towards the game. Everything he dreams of is going to happen for him.”
Antetokounmpo technically isn’t wrong when it comes to Wembanyama’s height. According to NBA.com, Wembanyama is officially listed at 7 feet 3 and a half inches on the league’s official website.
Despite a slow start, Wembanyama was able to settle in and score 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting, while also securing nine rebounds and blocking five shots on the night. However, Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks as he poured in 44 points en route to a 125-121 win against Wembanyama’s Spurs.
Wembanyama has definitely appeared as advertised since the Spurs took him with the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The rookie big man is currently averaging 19.2 points. 10.1 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks, while shooting 44.9 percent from the field.
The Utah Jazz will visit the Boston Celtics in a cross-conference matchup on Friday’s NBA schedule. Boston is 26-7 overall and 16-0 at home, while Utah is 16-19 overall and 5-14 on the road. These teams have split their last four meetings, with the home team winning each time. The Jazz are 20-15 against the spread this season, while the Celtics are 15-16-2 versus the line.
Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET at TD Garden in Boston. The Celtics are favored by 14 points in the latest Jazz vs. Celtics odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 238.5 points. Before entering any Celtics vs. Jazz picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 10 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 103-55 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Boston vs. Utah. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Jazz vs. Celtics:
Celtics vs. Jazz spread: Celtics -14 Celtics vs. Jazz over/under: 238.5 points Celtics vs. Jazz money line: Celtics: -1137, Jazz: +713 Celtics vs. Jazz picks: See picks at SportsLine What you need to know about the Jazz The Jazz scored the most points they’ve had all season to find success on Wednesday as they managed a 154-148 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The victory was nothing new for the Jazz as they’re now sitting on three straight. The Jazz got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Jordan Clarkson out in front who scored 36 points to go along with six rebounds. Lauri Markkanen was another key contributor, scoring 31 points with seven rebounds.
Despite the win, Utah did not cover which ended its six-game ATS win streak. While the Jazz have the second-best cover percentage in the NBA at home, they are towards the bottom of the league in ATS success on the road, going 8-11. The Jazz have dealt with multiple injuries this season but that has also created depth as the team has six players averaging in double-figures and eight players averaging at least 9.0 points per game. See which team to pick here.
What you need to know about the Celtics Meanwhile, after a string of six wins, the Celtics’ good fortune finally ran out on Tuesday. They opened the new year with a less-than-successful 127-123 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the loss, the Celtics had strong showings from Kristaps Porzingis, who dropped a double-double on 34 points and 10 rebounds, and Jayson Tatum, who had 30 points and 13 rebounds. Less helpful for the Celtics was Jaylen Brown’s abysmal 0-8 three-point shooting.
Boston has now lost three of its last four against the spread to put it under .500 versus the line on the season (15-16-2). The Celtics remain the most balanced team in the NBA, ranking second in offensive rating and fifth in defensive rating. They have three players averaging at least 20 points per game in Tatum, Brown and Porzingis, but their top reserve in Al Horford (rest) is questionable to play on Friday. See which team to pick here.
How to make Celtics vs. Jazz picks The model has simulated Jazz vs. Celtics 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that hits in 60% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
We’ve got another exciting Eastern Conference matchup on Friday’s NBA schedule as the Indiana Pacers will host the Atlanta Hawks. Indiana is 19-14 overall and 10-7 at home, while Atlanta is 14-19 overall and 9-10 on the road. The Hawks have won six of the last eight matchups, although Indiana won the lone meeting this season. Atlanta is a league-worst 8-25 against the spread in the 2023-24 NBA season, while the Pacers are 19-14-1 against the number.
Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indiana is favored by 3 points in the latest Pacers vs. Hawks odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 262 points. Before entering any Hawks vs. Pacers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past five-plus seasons. The model enters Week 10 of the 2023-24 NBA season on a sizzling 103-55 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning well over $4,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Atlanta vs. Indiana. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Hawks vs. Pacers:
Pacers vs. Hawks spread: Pacers -3 Pacers vs. Hawks over/under: 262 points Pacers vs. Hawks money line: Pacers: -149, Hawks: +126 Pacers vs. Hawks picks: See picks at SportsLine What you need to know about the Pacers The Pacers entered their tilt with the Bucks with four consecutive wins, but they’ll enter their next game with five. Indiana rang in the new year with a 142-130 win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. The oddsmakers set the bar high with a 258-point over/under, but they still managed to beat it.
Tyrese Haliburton continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, dropping a double-double on 31 points and 12 assists. He has been hot recently, having posted 10-plus assists in each of his last 10 games. Haliburton is one of eight Pacers averaging in double-figures as Indiana is the league’s highest-scoring team. However, the team struggles on the other end of the court, allowing the highest field-goal percentage and the second-most points per game. Wing Bruce Brown (knee) is questionable for Friday, but Indiana is 4-1 both SU and ATS when Brown does not play. See which team to pick here.
What you need to know about the Hawks Meanwhile, the oddsmakers set the bar high, but the Hawks and the Thunder didn’t disappoint and broke past the 248.5 point over/under on Wednesday. Atlanta sure made it a nail-biter, but it managed to escape with a 141-138 victory over Oklahoma City. The Hawks’ win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Jalen Johnson, who scored 28 points to go along with seven rebounds and four steals, while Trae Young had 24 points and 11 assists.
Atlanta also covered in the game which ended a five-game ATS losing streak. The Hawks have really struggled against the better teams in the league versus the spread, going 2-9 ATS versus teams that win at least 55% of their games. No team can match Atlanta’s volume on the offensive end as it attempts the most shots per game, but the Hawks are lacking in efficiency as they rank just 17th in field-goal percentage. Forward De’Andre Hunter (knee) is out for Friday. See which team to pick here.
Key Betting Info The Hawks will be relying on another big game from Young to pull off a victory. For the season, Young has averaged 28.2 points, 11.3 assists, and 1.5 steals.
The Pacers have performed about as expected when favored so far this season, and currently sit at 9-7 when expecting a win. Meanwhile, the Hawks have really struggled as the underdog this season and are currently 5-12 in that position.
Some of the betting trends to consider are:
The Hawks are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games vs teams that win more than 55% of games. The Hawks are 6-23 ATS in their last 29 games vs teams allowing more than 102 PPG. The Pacers are 6-6 ATS in their last 12 games vs teams that win less than 45% of games. How to make Pacers vs. Hawks picks The model has simulated Hawks vs. Pacers 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that hits almost 60% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
